Friendship with Philippine

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a two-day visit to Philippine to have two meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte. In the second meeting in Davao, Abe drew a positive message from Duterte to United States, with which Duterte had been frustrated on its criticism for violation of human rights. Performing as a liaison between U.S. and Philippine, Abe insisted on his diplomatic achievement in Southeast Asia.

Duterte announced that the relationship between Philippine and U.S. was important and he would maintain that bilateral cooperation. Abe insisted on the importance of U.S. engagement to Asia-Pacific region and asked Duterte to have close relationship with Japan to maintain peace and prosperity of the region. Abe focuses on improving trilateral relationship of Japan, U.S. and Philippine, taking opportunity of transition of U.S. administration from Barack Obama to Donald Trump.

The biggest issue between Japan and Philippine is how to maintain peace and prosperity of South China Sea. Duterte proposed Abe to solve the problem in a peaceful manner based on international law, revealing his willingness to have direct dialogue with China. “I hope to appeal the principle of rule of law in the meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and maintain free and open Indian Ocean,” told Abe with recognition of Philippine’s chairmanship in ASEAN this year.

Suffering from consecutive approach of Chinese vessels to Senkaku Islands in East China Sea or active moves of Chinese aircraft carrier in East and South China Sea, Abe needed to reinforce bilateral relationship with Southeast Asian nations. Philippine must have been one of the closest friends with common interest against China before Duterte took the seat. Diplomatic strategy of Japan has to be keeping Southeast Asian nations close to American side, to which Japan affiliates.

Accordingly, Abe announced financial support to Philippine in the first meeting held in Manila on Thursday. He pledged ¥1 trillion of official development assistance and private investment for next five years. To support Duterte’s agenda for fighting drug crimes, Abe promised another support for building related facilities and raising human resource to take care of drug users.

As did in the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abe performed to be building close private relationship with Duterte. Abe accepted Duterte’s invitation to his private house and had breakfast and lunch there. Government of Philippine praised Abe of his role of bridging Philippine and U.S. However, no one knows whether Philippine keeps on looking to Japan, ignoring consecutive attraction from China.